Actually, anything can amount to 4.4 billion. For example, RM 2 billion may be the actual cost of some service. But then, add the “thank you” fee for the politician who passed such a project to the project owner – that’s 1.5 million down – , and minus another 0.5 billion, that’s already a cool 4 billion. The 0.4 billion will be “subsidized” accordingly to many pockets.

I am very cynical when it comes to the Malaysian goverment’s lack of transparency.

No, Im not supporting the Jabatan Propaganda Dalam Negeri. I find it pathetic that there are so much dissatisfaction/hatred for the government which is unhealthy, and if left unattended to, will certainly lead to “instability”.

And does the fact that the concessions for the toll collection have already expired even matter in the first place? Guess not. The tolls on Jalan Mahameru and Cheras continued to receive extensions and continued collecting long after it had covered the building costs and made a hefty profit besides. The best joke is that some of these tolls are collecting RM1+ for a stretch of tarmac that’s shorter than SM’s dick.

If you don’t pay for the tolls, then they have to make up the revenue with another way to rip people off … and that costs mroe money to set up.

But yeah, I agree. They do that in Australia, which is why they have a toll on the Sydney Harbour Bridge which was builtin 1930 something and paid off completely 20 years ago … but then they left the toll on … then to justify the toll they built a tunnel under the harbour which nobody uses (and they even halved the toll on the tunnel to try to get people to use it).

It’s just so politicians can fill the coffers and make it look like they are good money managers, when in reality they’re just a bunch of tax collectors who still have rampant financial heamoraging, but they’ve got the money coming in so fast, nobody bothers to fix the big holes where it’s going out!

yes, it is frustrating to know tax-payers’ money not being spent wisely or properly, but the point I’m stressing is that growing dissatisfaction/hatred sentiments shall not be left unchecked, as the rakyat will not benefit from a politically unstable nation.

protest we will, but in peace, going through the proper channel/process, with VALID reasons supported by facts/evidence, not accusations.

i’m no pro-govt, at the same time I also do no wish to see a misguided society.

Yeah, tolls are so time and petrol consuming. They also cause massive traffic jams at the toll plazas. But fortunately Malaysia’s traffic jams aren’t as bad as the Bangkok gridlocks. I heard that they take potties with them into the cars so they can go to the toilet while stuck in the jams. When I was in Bangkok from 1994-95, I saw this to be true, the traffic jams that is. Don’t know about the potties. Never could walk faster than a car, but in Bangkok, no problems.

im not saying complaining on a blog is pathetic, but the negative vibes that seems to be plaguing the nation is.

promoting dialogues with the relevant ministries can be one of the channel/process.

the cracks/inferior quality roads and appaling public transport system not to mention sucky Proton cars are valid grouses of course, but we must beware the hidden agenda of certain parties playing up the issues, and not to be turned into pawns.

uncle ed: i absolutely agree with you. everyone knows people ought to talk to the relevant ministries. i do too. and im sure a lot have attempted to do so, and fail.

easy for the gov to say that the opposition is playing the issue up, why don’t they stop crying foul about opposition and rebut one by one the issue that opposition has brought up pertaining to fuel hike. they haven’t done that, have they?

For that matter, why on earth are we paying RM5 to watch pirated DVDs?

If you’re gonna screw the industry, why not get rid of the middle man and use Bittorrent instead?

I mean, it’s actually better for the government (or Telekom Malaysia – same thing, really…). That would give them some sort of incentive to expand broadband services around the country – milk us of our cash and all. And maybe, who knows, they may actually improve the services to meet the demand.

Oops, got a little carried away – I forgot we’re in Malaysia… T_T

Anyway, support Bittorrent, ok? Remember, every time you buy a pirated DVD, God kills a kitten.